Aircraft Carrier Propulsion

Indian navy launches first indigenous carrier, GE turbines also power stealth frigates

Posted on November 7, 2013

GE Marine will supply four GE LM2500 gas turbines – a combined 80 MW – to power the Indian navy’s INS Vikrant, the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier.

Like the INS Vikrant itself, the ship’s propulsion plant was manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.’s (HAL) Industrial & Marine Gas Turbine (IMGT) Division. Through its license with GE, HAL assembled, inspected and tested the LM2500 gas turbines and module enclosures for the INS Vikrant. The company said the IMGT Division’s Bangalore facility provides comprehensive support including inspection, spare parts, maintenance, equipment overhauls and assembly for industrial and marine gas turbines under license.

GE LM2500 gas turbine modules assembled and tested by HAL also power the Indian navy’s INS Satpura, INS Sahyadri and INS Shivalik stealth frigates. To date, GE said it has delivered 10 gas turbine module kits to HAL for the Indian navy.

According to the Indian navy, the LM2500 gas turbines were installed prior to the ship's launch on August 12, 2013. The aircraft carrier will undergo extensive trials before being handed over to the Indian navy in late 2016 or early 2017.